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AFM Pastoral Letter_1st Quarter_2023

INTRODUCTION

Dear AFM Family,

During our time of prayer and reflection at the end of 2022, the National Office Bearers felt led to focus on the strengthening and impartation of the Spiritual Foundation of Missionality in 2023. We resolved to spend time on who we are and how we live as Holy Spirit-filled people and church. During the Regional Empowerment visits, we are focusing on the theme: KEEP THE FIRE BURNING and share about our calling as believers and pastors; our spiritual discipline and ministerial faithfulness including daily time with the Word and in prayer; the character, values and norms of Holy Spirit-filled people; as well as our finances.

All the articles in this edition focus on the spiritual foundation of a missional lifestyle.

The character, values and norms of Holy Spirit-filled people are key aspects of the testimony of our movement, as well as of the lifestyle of every individual follower of Jesus.

• • Character refers to the mental, moral and ethical qualities and beliefs of an individual. It is about the way someone thinks, feels and behaves.
  • Values are about what you view as important, useful and of worth.
  • Norms refer to what an individual or group regard as the standard or acceptable way of doing something.

In the context of the world and society that we are living in, we must ask ourselves whether there should be a difference between the character, values and norms of a Holy Spirit-filled person and a person who is not filled with the Holy Spirit. In other words: Should a Holy Spirit-filled person think differently about life, about what is important and acceptable? Should a Holy Spirit-filled person behave differently? Should he/she handle emotions differently and speak differently? Or is there no difference?

If there is a difference, what should it be?

Looking at history, we see that when there was a need to appoint deacons to serve in the first church in Jerusalem, the requirements given by the twelve disciples, were recorded as follows in Acts 6:3: “…choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the (Holy) Spirit & wisdom.” (NIV)

The New King James Version (KJV) translated it as: “…men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” The Amplified Bible refers to people with “…Godly character and moral integrity…”. It seems that there was something distinctive and noticeable about people who were full of the Holy Spirit. When you interacted with them, you observed and heard something different.

In Ephesians 3:16 Paul wrote about our spiritual nature, our emotions, our inner being, the core of who we are as human beings, being built up and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. The thoughts and behaviour of Holy Spirit-filled people are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:9 Paul says that if the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are not controlled by a sinful nature, but by the Holy Spirit. There is a different operating system at work in Holy Spirit-filled people.

“The thoughts and behaviour of Holy Spirit-filled people are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul mentions the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. This produces behavioural qualities representative of Jesus in Holy Spirit-filled people. These traits are sometimes referred to as “The fruit of the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-23 defines it as: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

We are living in a world of many imitations. It seems that there is a counterfeit product available for everything true of value. Can it also be so with the Holy Spirit? Can people claim to be godly, but lack the true power and essence thereof? Can it be that their conduct, the way they think, live and behave nullifies the image that they have of being a Holy Spirit-filled people?

This must never be true of us. May our pastors, assembly leaders and all our members be known as men and women who are full of the Holy Spirit.

God’s “call” is an open invitation to salvation to all the lost to come to Him and be saved (Matt 9:13; Matt 9:9-13; Mark 2:17). As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

“For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Paul’s language echoes the language prophets sometimes used in response to the sufferings they or others would experience as a result of their prophetic ministry and reflects the prophetic call on his life. His experience of preaching the gospel is like the experience of those Old Testament prophets who felt compelled to deliver the divine message entrusted to them, regardless of their own desire, or lack of desire to do so.

Once we accepted the call, the power of God is released into us. 1 Corinthians 1:24: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor 1:9). The power of God is working in us to equip us for the task ahead to be more than conquerors in all aspects of life as we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Walk worthy of your calling. For us to stay true to our calling, we have to realise that it is not necessary to “earn our place” anymore. We have been set free from any form of inferior living and are now able to live our lives according to the standard of Jesus Christ. Paul gives the first three chapters in Ephesians to establish the truth that we are found “in Christ” and then challenges us to live according to that calling: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3, NKJV).

Impacting the lives of others. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life (2 Corinthians 2:15-16, NKJV). The life-giving follower of the call of God, whose heart is ever thirsting for God, whose soul is ever following hard after God, whose eye is single to God, and in whom by the power of God’s Spirit, the flesh and the world have been crucified. Our lives must be like the generous flood of a life-giving river.

I close with a prayer we use to sing: “Touch my life Lord Jesus, with thy nail scared hand, as for Thee I live and daily take my stand, let my life overflow so that others may know, Thou has touched my life with thy nail scared hand.”

As National Office Bearers we have declared this year as a season of keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit burning! Our focused commitment is to rekindle the fire through prayer, fasting and the knowledge of God’s Word. Our spiritual life is tied to devotion to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God, as indicated in Acts 6:4: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

“The order is significant; prayer first, then the ministry of the Word. Without God, there is no ministry.”

The Apostles dedicated themselves “…to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” The order is significant; prayer first, then the ministry of the Word. Without God, there is no ministry.

Prayer (Fasting)

Spiritual work depends upon spiritual tools. No spiritual tool is as significant or influential as prayer. As Andrew Murray reminds us: “In spiritual work, everything depends upon prayer.” We should maximise spiritual impact by prioritising prayer. Effective spiritual leaders value this spiritual tool, which is prayer.

“The more we pray, the more God works.”

The more we pray, the more God works. When we pray, things begin to change, “…as he (Jesus) was praying, heaven was opened…” (Luke 3:21b, NIV). Elijah was very committed to prayer and “…was a man of like passions to us, and he prayed with prayer that it should not rain; and it did not rain upon the earth three years and six months…” (James 5:17, DARBY). We should always pray and not quit, “…pray always and not become discouraged…” (Luke 18:1, HCSB).

“Prayer is the determining factor…if we don’t, He won’t.” – Jack Hayford.

The substance and exercise of fasting and prayer are critical to our spiritual lives; note the following four reasons and benefits:

• • Fasting has the power to please God by causing righteousness to shine, healing to come, and God’s glory to surround you. It leads to answered prayer (Isaiah 58:6–14).
  • Fasting increases spiritual power and prepares for greater impact. Jesus experienced forty days of prayer and fasting. Immediately after that, we see him preaching with the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:1–14).
  • Fasting is a powerful aid in spiritual warfare. After his disciples failed to cast out a demon, Jesus did so easily. Then he explained, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21).
  • Daniel’s twenty-one days of fasting and prayer were needed to aid the angel’s assignment to deliver the answer to Daniel’s prayers (Daniel 9:3–10:3).

Ministry of the Word (Read and Reread the Text)

The former Pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, G. Campbell Morgan, would read a book of the Bible 50 times before he lifted his pen in preparation for his sermon. At that point, he began to see things in the text that he overlooked the first few times reading through. As Servants of God, we are mandated to study, teach and preach the Word of God. The relevant three-fold ministry of the Word includes:

• • The studying of God’s Word (Ezra 7:10), “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” (NIV)
  • The teaching of God’s Word for making disciples (Matt. 28:20a), “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (NIV)
  • The preaching of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2), “…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (ESV)

In conclusion, we say, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1), and as God’s servants, we should always be nourished and sustained by God’s word, as “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, ESV).

Many of us are feeling the pressure of the financial situation in our country. Our country is not in a good spot and many decisions that were taken in the past, are having detrimental effects on all of us. But that does not mean that we have to be the victims of what is happening around us. We are children of the Mighty GOD that created heaven and earth and we are living in HIS presence and under HIS promises. He is fully aware of what is happening in our world and is working in this situation to benefit us. But we need to seek His face and follow His leading in our financial conduct.

The soft voice of the Holy Spirit and the principles of the Bible can and will lead you and me through difficult times. Our country had situations that looked unsurmountable in the past, but the men and women of GOD trusted in Him to guide us through.

Principle 1: Tithe

Some of the principles are to be faithful in your tithing. Tithing is not a money issue, but a trust and faith issue. By giving your tithe, you declare that you trust God to provide for you and help you to go much further with the remaining 90% than you would have been able with your full salary. Matt 6:21 says “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Tithing tests where my heart is. I’m sure that many of you have wonderful testimonies of miracles that God did in your own life and the lives of people around you. In difficult times, the thought will come to mind to stop tithing as times are changing. Please don’t fall into this trap, because your tithe is also the seed that will come up and will be your provision of blessing in the future. If you eat your seed, you kill your future blessing.

“Tithing tests where my heart is.”

Principle 2: Spend Wisely

In times like these we should also stick to the habit of spending wisely. Be careful how you spend your money and don’t run after every new fad or flavour just to be in with your crowd. Rather be more conservative and buy things that you need and will last long. Be very careful of slick sales tactics that want to convince you that your life will not be the same without this product or service. We have the God of heaven and earth in our lives and that helps us to live content lives. Hebrews 13:5 says: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Sometimes we need to be reminded that this earthly world will one day pass, and we will take nothing with us to the grave, but our crown is waiting for us.

Principle 3: Save Diligently

Saving diligently is another good habit that we need to keep in place. If we save diligently, we will always have enough when difficult times come. For most of us, saving doesn’t come naturally. We have to plan and execute that plan, but if the habit kicks in, you get the wonderful sense that you are ready for a rainy day.

Principle 4: Live Generously

Lastly, live generously. It will kill selfishness in your life and help you to be a blessing to others. If you can help someone, help them! Don’t turn a blind eye because what you do to the least, God will reward you for. My prayer is that 2023 will be a year of abundance in your life.

On the 25th of May 2023, we will be celebrating our church’s 115th Birthday anniversary. Like the previous year, we are again planning an AFM Logo day where we would like to encourage all our assemblies and members to share, showcase and display the AFM logo everywhere! It was such a blessing last year to witness the high level of participation and response from our church.

This year we are adding a further element together with the AFM Logo day – on this day we are also requesting that every member of the AFM Family reaches out to just one other person to share the love of Christ. It can be an in-person encounter or a call over WhatsApp. It can be someone you know or a complete stranger. One can only imagine the impact when every AFM member takes up his/her calling as a messenger of Christ – sharing His love with just one other person.

The National Office Bearers will release five video clips that will provide practical guidelines on how to share Christ with another person. We are looking forward to celebrating the AFM of SA’s 115th Birthday anniversary and planning to keep the fire burning!

Friendly Regards
Henri Weideman

Laai die PDF-weergawe hier af (om maklik te e-pos of uit te druk):

AGS Pastorale Brief_1ste Kwartaal_2023

INLEIDING

AGS Familie,

Aan die einde van 2022, gedurende ons tyd van gebed en nadenke het die Nasionale Ampsdraers gelei gevoel om in 2023 te fokus op die bevestiging en versterking van die Geestelike onderbou van Missionaliteit. Ons het besluit om tyd te spandeer aan wie ons as Heilige Gees vervulde mense en kerk is en hoe ons (behoort te) leef. Tydens die Streekbemagtigingsbesoeke, fokus ons op die tema: HOU DIE VUUR AAN DIE BRAND (“Keep the Fire burning”). Ons deel meer oor ons roeping as gelowiges en pastore; ons geestelike dissipline en bedieningsgetrouheid (insluitende tyd met die Woord en in gebed); die karakter, waardes en norme van Heilige Gees vervulde mense; so wel as ons finansies.

Al die artikels in hierdie uitgawe fokus op die geestelike onderbou van ‘n missionale leefstyl.

Die karakter, waardes en norme van Heilige Gees vervulde mense is sleutelaspekte van die getuienis van ons beweging, asook van die lewenstyl van elke individuele volgeling van Jesus.

• • Karakter verwys na die geestelike, morele en etiese eienskappe en oortuigings van ‘n individu. Dit gaan oor die manier waarop iemand dink, voel en optree.
  • Waardes gaan oor wat jy as belangrik, bruikbaar en van waarde ag.
  • Norme verwys na dit wat ‘n individu of groep beskou as die standaard of aanvaarbare manier waarvolgens iets gedoen word.

In die konteks van die wêreld en die samelewing waarin ons leef, moet ons onsself vra of daar ‘n verskil moet wees tussen die karakter, waardes en norme van ‘n Heilige Gees vervulde persoon en ‘n persoon wat nie met die Heilige Gees vervul is nie. Met ander woorde: Moet ‘n Heilige Gees vervulde mens anders dink oor die lewe, oor wat belangrik en aanvaarbaar is? Moet ‘n Heilige Gees vervulde persoon anders optree? Moet hy/sy emosies anders hanteer en anders praat? Of is daar geen verskil nie?

As daar ‘n verskil is, wat behoort dit wees?

As ons na die geskiedenis kyk, sien ons dat toe daar ‘n behoefte was om diakens aan te stel om in die eerste kerk in Jerusalem te dien, die vereistes wat die twaalf dissipels gestel het, soos volg in Handelinge 6:3 opgeteken is: “…Kies sewe mans onder julle wat daarvoor bekend is dat hulle vol van die Heilige Gees is en wysheid het” (NLV). Die New King James weergawe vertaal dit as: “…men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.” Die Amplified Bible verwys na mense met “Godly character and moral integrity…”. Dit blyk dat daar iets kenmerkend en opvallend was aan mense wat vol van die Heilige Gees was. Wanneer jy met hulle omgegaan het, het jy iets anders waargeneem en gehoor.

“Die gedagtes en gedrag van Heilige Gees vervulde mense is onder leiding van die Heilige Gees.”

In Efesiërs 3:16 skryf Paulus oor ons geestelike natuur, ons emosies, ons innerlike wese, die kern van wie ons as mense is, wat deur die Heilige Gees opgebou en versterk word. Die gedagtes en gedrag van Heilige Gees vervulde mense is onder leiding van die Heilige Gees. In Romeine 8:9 sê Paulus dat as die Heilige Gees in ons woon, ons nie deur ‘n sondige natuur beheer word nie, maar deur die Heilige Gees. Daar is ‘n ander operasionele stelsel aan die werk in Heilige Gees vervulde mense.

In 2 Tessalonisense 2:13 praat Paulus oor die heiligmakende werk van die Heilige Gees. Dit produseer gedragseienskappe wat verteenwoordigend is van Jesus, in Heilige Gees vervulde mense. Daar word soms na hierdie eienskappe verwys as “Die vrug van die Gees.” Galasiërs 5:22-23 definieer dit as: Liefde, Vreugde, Vrede, Geduld, Vriendelikheid, Goedheid, Getrouheid, Sagmoedigheid en Selfbeheersing.

Ons leef in ‘n wêreld van baie nabootsings. Dit blyk dat daar ‘n vervalste produk beskikbaar is vir alles wat werklik waardevol is. Kan dit ook so wees met die Heilige Gees? Kan mense daarop aanspraak maak dat hulle geestelik is, maar nie die ware krag en wese daarvan reflekteer nie? Kan dit wees dat hulle gedrag, die manier waarop hulle dink, leef en optree – die beeld wat hulle het om Heilige Gees vervulde mense te wees, tot niet maak?

Dit mag nooit van ons waar wees nie. Mag ons pastore, gemeenteleiers en al ons lidmate bekend wees as manne en vroue wat vol van die Heilige Gees is.

God se “roeping” is ’n ope uitnodiging tot redding aan al die verlorenes om na Hom toe te kom om gered te word (Matt 9:13; Matt 9:9-13; Markus 2:17). Terwyl Jesus daarvandaan verder gaan, het Hy ‘n man met die naam Matteus by die tolhuis sien sit en vir hom gesê: “Volg My!” Hy het toe opgestaan en Hom gevolg. Jesus het by hom in sy huis gaan eet, en baie tollenaars en sondaars het saam met Jesus en sy dissipels kom eet. Toe die Fariseërs dit sien, vra hulle vir sy dissipels: “Waarom eet julle leermeester saam met tollenaars en sondaars?” Maar Jesus het dit gehoor en gesê: “Dié wat gesond is, het nie ‘n dokter nodig nie, maar dié wat siek is. Gaan leer wat dit beteken: ‘Ek verwag barmhartigheid en nie offers nie.’ Ek het nie gekom om mense te roep wat op die regte pad is nie, maar sondaars.”

“As ek die evangelie verkondig, is dit nie vir my ‘n rede om te roem nie. Ek verkondig die evangelie omdat ek móét! En wee my as ek dit nie doen nie!” (1 Korintiërs 9:16; AFR83). Paulus se taalgebruik eggo die taal wat soms deur profete gebruik was in reaksie op die lyding wat hulle of ander ervaar het as gevolg van hulle profetiese bediening, en weerspieël die profetiese roeping op sy lewe. Sy ervaring van die verkondiging van die evangelie, is soos die ervaring van daardie Ou-Testamentiese profete wat verplig gevoel het om die Goddelike boodskap wat aan hulle toevertrou is oor te dra, ongeag hul eie begeerte, of gebrek aan begeerte om dit te doen.

Sodra ons die roeping aanvaar het, word die krag van God in ons vrygestel.
1 Korintiërs 1:24 (AFR83) sê: “…maar vir dié wat deur God geroep is, Jode sowel as Grieke, is Christus die krag van God en die wysheid van God.” “God is getrou, Hy wat julle geroep het om verenig te lewe met sy Seun, Christus Jesus, ons Here.” (1 Korintiërs 1:9; AFR83). Die krag van God werk in ons om ons toe te rus vir die taak wat voorlê om meer as oorwinnaars te wees in alle aspekte van die lewe, aangesien ons alles kan doen deur Christus wat ons versterk.

Wandel waardig van jou roeping.
Vir ons om getrou te bly aan ons roeping, moet ons besef dat dit nie meer nodig is om “ons plek te verdien” nie. Ons is vrygemaak van enige vorm van ‘n minderwaardige lewe en is nou in staat om ons lewens volgens die standaard van Jesus Christus te leef. Paulus gee die eerste drie hoofstukke in Efesiërs om die waarheid vas te stel dat ons “in Christus” gevind word en daag ons dan uit om volgens daardie roeping te lewe: “Ek druk julle dit op die hart, ek wat ‘n gevangene is omdat ek die Here dien: Laat julle lewenswandel in ooreenstemming wees met die roeping wat julle van God ontvang het. Wees altyd beskeie, vriendelik en geduldig, en verdra mekaar in liefde.  Lê julle daarop toe om die eenheid wat die Gees tussen julle gesmee het, te handhaaf deur in vrede met mekaar te lewe.” (Efesiërs 4:1-3; AFR83).

Maak ‘n impak en verskil in ander se lewens.
Want ons is vir God die geur van Christus onder die wat gered word en onder die wat verlore gaan. Vir die een is ons die geur van die dood wat tot die dood lei, en vir die ander die geur van die lewe wat tot die lewe lei (2 Korintiërs 2:15-16). Die lewegewende volgeling wat luister na die roepstem van God, is die een wie se hart altyd dors is na God, wie se siel altyd smag om God te soek en te volg, wie se oog alleen op God gerig is en in wie deur die krag van God se Gees, die vlees en die wêreld gekruisig het. Ons lewens moet wees soos die vrygewige vloed van ‘n lewegewende rivier. Ek sluit af met ‘n gebed wat ons gewoonlik sing:

“Touch my life Lord Jesus, with thy nail scared hand, as for Thee I live and daily take my stand, let my life overflow so that others may know, Thou has touched my life with thy nail scared hand.”

As Nasionale Ampsdraers het ons hierdie jaar verklaar as ‘n seisoen om die vuur van die Heilige Gees aan die brand te hou deur te fokus op gebed, vas en die kennis van God se Woord. Ons geestelike lewe is gekoppel aan toewyding in gebed en die bediening van die Woord van God, soos aangedui in Handelinge 6:4 (AFR83): “Ons sal dan al ons aandag aan gebed en die bediening van die woord bly gee.” Die Apostels het hulleself gewy “…aan gebed en die bediening van die woord…”. Die volgorde is betekenisvol – eerste gebed, dan die bediening van die Woord. Sonder die Here is daar geen bediening nie.

“Sonder die Here is daar geen bediening nie.”

Gebed (en Vas)

Geestelike werk hang af van geestelike “gereedskap”. Geen geestelike hulpmiddel is so betekenisvol of invloedryk soos gebed nie. Soos Andrew Murray ons herinner: “In spiritual work, everything depends upon prayer.” Ons moet geestelike impak maksimeer deur gebed te prioritiseer. Effektiewe geestelike leiers waardeer gebed as geestelike hulpmiddel.

“Hoe meer ons bid, hoe meer werk God.”

Hoe meer ons bid, hoe meer werk God. Wanneer ons bid begin dinge verander. “…en (toe) Hy (Jesus) besig was om te bid, het die hemel oopgegaan” (Lukas 3:21; AFR83). Elia was baie toegewyd aan gebed en “…was ‘n mens net soos ons, en hy het ernstig gebid dat dit nie moes reën nie, en dit het op die aarde drie jaar en ses maande lank nie gereën nie…” (Jakobus 5:17; AFR83). Ons moet altyd bid en nie ophou nie, “…dat ‘n mens gedurig moet bid en nie moedeloos word nie…” (Lukas 18:1; AFR83).

“Prayer is the determining factor…if we don’t, He won’t.” – Jack Hayford.

Vas en gebed is van kritieke belang vir ons geestelike lewens en hou die volgende voordele in:

• • Vas het die krag om God te behaag deur geregtigheid sigbaar te maak, genesing te laat kom en jouself te omring met God se heerlikheid. Dit lei tot verhoorde gebed (Jesaja 58:6–14).
  • Vas verhoog geestelike krag en berei jou voor vir groter impak. Jesus het veertig dae van gebed en vas beleef. Onmiddellik daarna sien ons hom preek met die krag van die Heilige Gees. (Lukas 4:1–14).
  • Vas is ‘n kragtige hulpmiddel in geestelike oorlogvoering. Nadat sy dissipels nie daarin geslaag het om ‘n demoon uit te dryf nie, het Jesus dit maklik gedoen. Toe het hy verduidelik: “Maar hierdie geslag gaan nie uit behalwe deur gebed en vas nie.” (Matteus 17:21).
  • Daniël se een-en-twintig dae van vas en gebed was nodig om die engel in sy opdrag te help om die antwoord op Daniël se gebede te lewer (Daniël 9:3–10:3). 

    

    Bediening van die Woord (Lees en herlees die teks)

    Die voormalige Pastoor van Westminster Chapel in Londen, G. Campbell Morgan, sou ‘n boek van die Bybel 50 keer lees voordat hy sy pen opgelig het ter voorbereiding van sy preek. Op daardie stadium het hy dinge in die teks begin sien wat hy die eerste paar keer toe hy deurgelees het, misgekyk het. As dienaars van God is ons verplig om die Woord van God te bestudeer, te onderrig en te verkondig. Die betrokke drievoudige bediening van die Woord sluit in:

    • Die bestudering van God se Woord (Esra 7:10; AFR83), “Esra het hom gewy aan die wet van die Here. Hy wou dit in die praktyk toepas en Israel elke voorskrif en bepaling leer.”
    • Om ander te leer van God se Woord (om te onderrig) vir die maak van dissipels, “…leer hulle om alles te onderhou wat Ek julle beveel het.” (Matteus 28:20; AFR83).
    • Die prediking van God se Woord (2 Timoteus 4:2; AFR83), “…verkondig die woord; hou daarmee vol, tydig en ontydig; weerlê, bestraf, bemoedig deur met alle geduld onderrig te gee.”

     

    Ten slotte sê ons: “Here, leer ons bid…” (Lukas 11:1; AFR83), en as God se diensknegte moet ons altyd deur God se Woord gevoed en onderhou word, want “…’n Mens leef nie net van brood nie maar van elke woord wat uit die mond van God kom.” (Matteus 4:4; AFR83).

    

Baie van ons voel die druk van die finansiële situasie in ons land. Ons land is nie tans op ‘n goeie plek nie en baie besluite wat in die verlede geneem is, het ‘n nadelige uitwerking op ons almal. Maar dit beteken nie dat ons die slagoffers moet wees van wat rondom ons gebeur nie. Ons is kinders van die Magtige GOD wat hemel en aarde geskep het en ons leef in SY teenwoordigheid en onder SY beloftes. Hy is ten volle bewus van wat in ons wêreld gebeur. In hierdie situasie werk Hy nog steeds om ons te bevoordeel. Maar ons moet Sy aangesig en Sy leiding soek in ons finansies.

Die sagte stem van die Heilige Gees en die beginsels van die Bybel kan en sal jou en my deur moeilike tye lei. Ons land het situasies gehad wat in die verlede onoorkombaar gelyk het, maar die manne en vroue van GOD het op Hom vertrou om ons daardeur te lei.

Beginsel 1: Gee Jou Tiende

Een van die belangsrikste beginsels is om getrou te wees in die gee van jou tiende. Tiendes is nie ‘n geldkwessie nie, maar ‘n vertroue- en geloofskwessie. Deur jou tiende te gee, verklaar jy dat jy God vertrou om vir jou te voorsien en jou te help om met die oorblywende 90% baie verder te gaan as wat jy met jou volle salaris sou kon. Matteus 6:21 sê “…daar waar jou skat is, daar sal jou hart ook wees”. Tiendes toets waar my hart is. Ek is seker dat baie van julle wonderlike getuienisse het van wonderwerke wat God in jou eie lewe en die lewens van mense rondom jou gedoen het. In moeilike tye sal die gedagte by jou opkom om tiendes te stop. Moet asseblief nie in hierdie strik trap nie, want jou tiende is ook die saad wat sal opkom en jou voorsiening van seën in die toekoms sal wees. As jy jou saad eet, maak jy jou toekomstige seën dood.

“Tiendes toets waar my hart is.”

Beginsel 2: Spandeer Verstandig

In tye soos hierdie moet ons ook by die gewoonte hou om verstandig te bestee. Wees versigtig hoe jy jou geld spandeer en moenie agter elke nuwe gier of geur aanhardloop net om populêr te bly nie. Wees liewer meer konserwatief en koop goed wat jy nodig het en lank sal hou. Wees baie versigtig vir misleidende verkoopstaktieke wat jou wil oortuig dat jou lewe nie dieselfde sal wees sonder hierdie produk of diens nie. Ons het die God van hemel en aarde in ons lewens, en dit sy teenwoordigheid help ons om tevrede te leef. Hebreërs 13:5 sê: “Hou julle lewe vry van geldgierigheid; wees tevrede met wat julle het. God self het gesê: “Ek sal jou nooit verlaat nie, jou nooit in die steek laat nie.” Soms moet ons daaraan herinner word dat hierdie aardse wêreld eendag sal verbygaan en ons sal niks kan saamneem graf toe nie – maar ons kroon wag vir ons.

Beginsel 3: Spaar Ywerig

Om ywerig te spaar is nog ‘n goeie gewoonte wat ons in plek moet hou. As ons ywerig spaar, sal ons altyd genoeg hê wanneer moeilike tye kom. Vir die meeste van ons kom spaar nie natuurlik nie. Ons moet dit egter beplan en uitvoer, maar as die gewoonte inskop kry jy die wonderlike gevoel dat jy reg is vir ‘n reënerige dag.

Beginsel 4: Leef Vrygewig

Laastens, leef vrygewig. Dit sal selfsug in jou lewe doodmaak en jou help om ‘n seën vir ander te wees. As jy iemand kan help, help hulle! Moenie doekies omdraai nie, want wat jy aan die minste doen, sal God jou voor beloon. My gebed is dat 2023 ‘n jaar van oorvloed in jou lewe sal wees.

Op die 25ste Mei 2023 vier ons ons kerk se 115de verjaarsdag herdenking. Soos die vorige jaar beplan ons weer ‘n AGS Embleem dag waar ons graag al ons gemeentes en lidmate wil aanmoedig om die AGS embleem oral te deel en ten toon te stel! Dit was so ‘n seën verlede jaar om die hoë vlakke van deelname en reaksie van ons kerk te aanskou.

Hierdie jaar voeg ons ‘n verdere element by saam met die AGS Embleem dag – op hierdie dag versoek ons ​​ook dat elke lidmaat van die AGS Familie sal uitreik na net een ander persoon en die liefde van Christus met hulle sal deel. Dit kan ‘n persoonlike ontmoeting of ‘n oproep oor Whatsapp wees. Dit kan iemand wees wat jy ken of ‘n totale vreemdeling. Mens kan jou net indink wat die impak kan wees wanneer elke AGS-lidmaat sy/haar roeping as ‘n boodskapper van Christus opneem – om Sy liefde met net een ander persoon te deel.

Die Nasionale Ampsdraers gaan vyf videogrepe vry stel wat praktiese riglyne sal verskaf oor hoe om Christus met ‘n ander persoon te deel. Ons sien uit daarna om die AGS van SA se 115de verjaarsdag herdenking te vier en beplan om die vuur aan die brand te hou (“Keep the Fire Burning”)!

Vriendelike Groete
Henri Weideman